EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight’s runaway bride Natalie Parham rips into husband Collins Christian as she breaks her silence after quitting the show: ‘I wasn’t Blake Lively enough for him’
Married At First Sight’s Natalie Parham has broken her silence after she sensationally quit the show on Monday night after failing to connect with her TV husband Collins Christian.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 32-year-old opened up about the stark reality of her doomed partnership with Collins – and the moment that led her to walk away from her ‘marriage’.
‘I’m feeling good being home, back in my element and feeling more myself, but it was a pretty tough watch,’ Natalie confessed.
‘It was sad seeing me sort of lose my sparkle, [and] watch the life drain from my eyes as Colin’s monologues.’
The Connection That Never Was
Married At First Sight’s Natalie Parham has broken her silence after she sensationally quit the show on Monday night after she failing to connect with her TV husband Collins Christian
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 32-year-old opened up about the stark reality of her doomed partnership with Collins – and the moment that led her to walk away from her ‘marriage’
Collins’s apparent lack of attraction was a key factor in her decision.
‘There was no connection,’ she flatly stated.
‘I wasn’t Blake Lively enough for him,’ Natalie revealed, taking a dig of his audition tape revealing that the Hollywood actress was his ‘dream girl’.
Collins’s Efforts (or Lack Thereof)
Natalie admits there were attempts to spark a connection, albeit unsuccessful.
‘He couldn’t really say how he was going to make an effort besides offering to play Mario Kart,’ she explained.
‘It was pretty disappointing considering how much we both sacrificed to be there.
‘I just had to call it early, because there was just, there was no, there was no chance at forming any connection, despite me giving it a few extra goes to come back and chat to him.’
Natalie admits there were attempts to spark a connection, albeit unsuccessful
Friend-zoned and Gym Excuses
‘We did go for dinner in Bondi and it was, yeah, it was more like friendship vibes,’ Natalie shared.
Collins’s long gym sessions only added to Natalie’s feelings of isolation and neglect.
‘He would go to the gym for six hours and I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll go have a look down at the gym, Oh, he’s not there. Okay,’ He went out for the day. That’s all right,’ she said.
Despite the failed connection, Natalie expressed sympathy for her TV husband
Sympathy for Collins
Despite the failed connection, Natalie expressed sympathy for her TV husband.
‘I feel bad for the guy,’ she admitted, acknowledging the potential disappointment Collins might feel about his portrayal on the show.
‘He’s probably watching and, you know, clenching his fists and not happy with how he’s being shown on TV, because I know that that probably means a lot to him.
‘I feel bad because if he wanted love, he just had very, very, very high expectations. And yeah, he probably feels like he got drawn the short straw with me.’
Natalie’s personal struggles, including grief over her father’s passing, were met with indifference from Collins
Grief and Lack of Support
Natalie’s personal struggles, including grief over her father’s passing, were met with indifference from Collins.
As soon as, you know, I said, ”Oh, I’ve, my dad passed away and I’ve got grief. He was like, Oh, no, like that’s too, too much, too much for me,’ she recounted.
‘Yes, he’s never been in a relationship, but it, it doesn’t take much human decency to just check in and ask, ‘are you okay? Like, how’s it all going?”
Natalie also spoke about the lack of empathy and support from him during her time of need.
Hope for a Connection
‘Yes, 100%,’ Natalie affirmed when asked if a better connection could have changed her mind about leaving the show.
She emphasised the importance of having a support system within the relationship, something she found lacking with Collins.
‘If I had a connection with someone, they would have been my support system, and I wouldn’t have been so affected by my emotions,’ Natalie explained.
‘I wouldn’t have felt alone. Like, if someone stuck by me at that first dinner party, I would have, yeah, I would not have left crying and been a babbling mess.’
‘Yes, 100%,’ Natalie affirmed when asked if a better connection could have changed her mind about leaving the show
‘I’ve never seen that side of Collins’
Natalie also weighed in on Collins’ epic feud with expert John Aiken during Sunday’s Commitment Ceremony.
‘I wouldn’t say fun it was, I was not expecting him to go toe to toe kind of thing, and I really wasn’t expecting Collins to bite back as hard as he did.’
She observed a side of Collins previously unseen, marked by defensiveness and dramatic gesturing that left her resolved in her decision.
‘So, when I wrote leave, I was very happy that I wrote leave.’
Natalie also weighed in on Collins’ epic feud with expert John Aiken during Sunday’s Commitment Ceremony
Looking Ahead: The Reunion and Beyond
Natalie is already planning her approach to the reunion, aiming to treat Collins with the kindness she felt was missing at their first dinner party.
‘When reunion comes, I’m gonna treat Collins how I wanted to be treated at the first dinner party. That’s how I’m going into the reunion,’ she said.
And as for another season?
‘I would love to, to give it another shot to see, but I have to be guaranteed that it would be someone emotionally mature and absolutely ready for a relationship,’ she added.
Married At First Sight continues on Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine